18461878] MISCELLANEOUS 221 



man, as if they had seen him walk on the stage, and as if, in Letter 556 

 a geological chronological sense, it was more important than 

 the entry of any other mammifer. 



You ask me to do a most puzzling thing, to point out 

 what is newest in my volume, and I found myself incapable 

 of doing almost the same for Lyell. My mind goes from 

 point to point without deciding : what has interested oneself 

 or given most trouble is, perhaps quite falsely, thought 

 newest. The elevation of the land is perhaps more 

 carefully treated than any other subject, but it cannot, of 

 course, be called new. I have made out a sort of index, 

 which will not take you a couple of minutes to skim over, 

 and then you will perhaps judge what seems newest. The 

 summary at the end of the book would also serve same 

 purpose. 



I do not know where E. de B. [Elie de Beaumont] has 

 lately put forth on the recent elevation of the Cordillera. He 

 " rapported " favourably on d'Orbigny, who in late times fires 

 off a most Royal salute ; every volcano bursting forth in the 

 Andes at the same time with their elevation, the debacle thus 

 caused depositing all the Pampean mud and all the Pata- 

 gonian shingle ! Is not this making Geology nice and simple 

 for beginners ? 



We have been very sorry to hear of Bunbury's severe 

 illness ; I believe the measles are often dangerous to grown- 

 up people. I am very glad that your last account was so 

 much better. 



I am astonished that you should have had the courage 

 to go right through my book. It is quite obvious that 

 most geologists find it far easier to write than to read a 

 book. 



Ch. I. and II. Elevation of the land : equability on E. 

 coast as shown by terraces, p. 19 ; length on W. coast, p. 53 ; 

 height at Valparaiso, p. 32 ; number of periods of rest at 

 Coquimbo, p. 49 ; elevation within Human period near Lima 

 greater than elsewhere observed ; the discussion (p. 41) on 

 non-horizontality of terraces perhaps one of newest features 

 on formation of terraces rather newish. 



Ch. III., p. 65. Argument of horizontal elevation of 

 Cordillera I believe new. I think the connection (p. 54) 

 between earthquake [shocks] and insensible rising important. 



